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ROLE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES IN THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE SUBJECT MATTER

A lot has been said and written about SMEs the world over. It has also formed the subject of discussions in so many seminars and workshops both locally and internationally. In the same token, governments at various levels (local, state and Federal levels) have in one way or the other focused on the Small and Medium Enterprises. While some governments had formulated policies aimed at facilitating and empowering the growth, development and performance of the SMEs, others had focused on assisting the SMEs to grow through soft loans and other fiscal incentives (Ajagu, 2005).

Acording to Akwaja (2004), international agencies and organisations (World Bank, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), International Finance Corporation (IFC), United Kingdom Department For International Development (DFID), European Investment Bank (EIB) etc are not only keenly interested in making SMEs robust and vibrant in developing countries but have also heavily invested in them. Locally, the several Non-Governmental Organisations such as Fate foundation, Support and Training Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), the Association of Nigerian Development Finance Institutions (ANDFI), as well as individual Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) have been promoting the growth of SMEs in Nigeria through advocacy and capacity-building initiatives, and have continued to canvass for better support structures for operators in the SME sub- sector.

 All the massive attention and support given to SMEs relate to the widely acclaimed fact that SMEs are job and wealth creators. In justifying the introduction of SMIEIS in 2003, the then Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Chief Joseph Sanusi said “With a concerted effort and renewed commitment from all stakeholders, this scheme will surely succeed and realize its intended objective of revamping the SMEs as engines of growth in the economy and a veritable tool for the development of indigenous technology, rapid industrialization, generation of employment for our teeming youths and the pivot for sustainable economic development in Nigeria” (Alawode, 2005).

Iornem et al (2000) are of the opinion that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) occupy a place of pride in virtually every country or state. Because of their (SMEs) significant roles in the development and growth of various economies, they (SMEs) have aptly been referred to as “the engine of growth” and “catalysts for socio-economic transformation of any country.” SMEs represent a veritable vehicle for the achievement of national economic objectives of employment generation and poverty reduction at low investment cost as well as the development of entrepreneurial capabilities including indigenous technology. Other intrinsic benefits of vibrant SMEs include access to the infrastructural facilities occasioned by the existence of such SMEs in their surroundings, the stimulation of economic activities such as suppliers of various items and distributive trades for items produced and or needed by the SMEs, stemming from rural urban migration, enhancement of standard of living of the employees of the SMEs and their dependents as well as those who are directly or indirectly associated with them.

In recognition of the enormous potential roles of SMEs, some of which have been outlined above, various special measures and programmes have been designed and policies enunciated and executed by government to encourage their (SMEs) development and hence make them more vibrant in Nigeria. The highlights of these measures include:

i. Fiscal incentives and protective fiscal policies

ii. Specialized financial institutions and funding schemes for the SMEs

iii. Favourable tariff structure

iv.   The SMIEIS funding scheme

v.   Selective exemption and preferential treatment in excise duties

vi.   Establishment of Export Processing Zones

vii. Selective reservation of items for exclusive manufacture in the SME sub- sector

viii. Government’s full weight and support for NEPAD and AGOA activities  and operations.

It has however been worrisome that despite the incentives, policies, programmes and support aimed at revamping the SMEs, they have performed rather below expectation in Nigeria. Different people, organisations, and operators have advanced various reasons as to why SMEs have not been able to live up to their billing. While an average operator would always hinge his failure on lack of access to finance, some others think otherwise arguing that inappropriate management skills, difficulty in accessing global market, lack of entrepreneurial skills and know how, poor infrastructure etc are largely responsible.

The Association of Nigerian Development Finance Institutions (ANDFI) in 2004 issued this statement in relation to why SMEs perform poorly in Nigeria:“Finance is usually considered as the major constraints of SMEs. While this may be true, empirical evidences have shown that finance contributes only about 25 percent to the success of SMEs. Thus, the creation of other appropriate support system and enabling environment are indispensable for the success of SMEs in Nigeria”. (Johnson, 2005).

In a Consultant’s Report on Business Support in FCT Number 107, by David Irwin in March 2004 for DFID, it was stated on Page 5, paragraph 3.3 that “Governments all around the world now recognise the important contribution that small firms make to the economy- and many governments have established extensive support arrangement to help people start and grow their businesses. In Nigeria, hitherto, there has been no concerted effort to encourage and support new businesses”. Some others have argued that the bane of SMEs in Nigeria is the lack of long-term loans since most loans in the Nigerian market are short-term while what SMEs require to grow and become really successful is long-term patient capital. The dearth of venture capital financing in Nigeria has also aggravated the situation as venture capital provides long-term patient capital, which allows a small business to grow, as is the case in Ghana and some developed economies (Central Bank of Nigeria, 2001).

Other challenges and problems, which frustrate SMEs in Nigeria and make some of them to either die within their first two years of existence or perform below standard even after surviving in their early years abound. The key ones include inadequate infrastructural facilities (road water electricity etc), insecurity of lives and property, inconsistent monetary, fiscal and industrial policies, limited access to markets, multiple taxation and levies, lack of modern technology for processing and preserving products, policy reversals, capacity limitations, data inadequacies, harsh operating environment, fragile ownership base, fragile capital base. While some of the challenges that SMEs face are induced by the operating environment (government policies, globalisation effects, financial institutions, local government policies, attitude to work etc), other challenges are driven by the inherent characteristics of the SMEs themselves.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria have not performed     creditably well and hence have not played the expected vital and vibrant role in the economic growth and development of Nigeria. This situation has been of    great concern to the government, citizenry, operators, practitioners and the organised private sector groups. Year in year out, the governments at federal, state and even local levels through budgetary allocations, policies and pronouncements have signified interest and acknowledgement of the crucial role of the SME sub-sector of the economy and hence made policies for energizing the same. There have also been fiscal incentives, grants, bilateral and multilateral agencies support and aids as well as specialized institutions all geared towards making the SME sub-sector vibrant.

Just as it has been a great concern to all and sundry to promote the welfare of SMEs, it has also been a great cause of concern to all, the fact that the vital sub-sector has fallen short of expectation. The situation is more disturbing and worrying when compared with what other developing and developed countries have been able to achieve with their SMEs. It has been shown that there is a high correlation between the degree of poverty hunger, unemployment, economic well being (standard of living) of the citizens of countries and the degree of vibrancy of the respective country’s SMEs. If Nigeria were to achieve an appreciable success towards attaining the Millennium Declaration Goals for 2015, one of the sure ways would be to vigorously pursue the development of its SMEs. Some of the key Millennium Declaration Goals like halving the proportion of people living in extreme poverty, suffering from hunger, without access to safe water, reducing maternal and infant mortality by three-quarts and two thirds respectively and enrolment of all children in primary school by 2015 may indeed be a mirage unless there is a turnaround of our SMEs’ fortunes sooner than later. The time is now to do something surgical to the situation of our SMEs given the aggravating level of poverty in Nigeria and the need to meet up with the Millennium Declaration Goals (Alawode, 2005).

The decreasing level of Nigeria’s per capita income, which declined from $870 in 1981 to $260 in 1998, and $205 in2004 as well as a low level of agricultural, industrial and infrastructural development (irrigation, road and railway networks) all represent disturbing indices, which also contribute to the dismal performance and contribution of our SMEs. Dr. Ade Oyedijo, (2007) a financial expert in a paper titled “Nigeria’s Economy and its Career Promise for the Mature Employee” affirmed that the plights of SMEs in Nigeria have to do with key variables and challenges that characterise the nation’s economy. These include but are not limited to a very high unemployment rate, which is expected to increase as a result of the current  ongoing public sector reforms, high unemployment rate, high poverty level, disease, hunger, etc. Dr. Oyedijo also mentioned a drastic shift from the production of non-oil traded goods (mostly agricultural) to traded goods while about 95 Million Nigerians are reported to be living below the poverty line even as 19 of her citizens are ranked among the 500 wealthiest men in modern capitalist economy as among the characteristics of our nation’s economy which aggravate the problems of Nigerian SMEs. He also opined that since independence, the main thrust of Nigeria’s development strategies and objectives have been the development of industrialization, education and a self- reliant economy but regretted that the human capital which is expected to support the industrialisation process and propel other sectors to maturity has not exhibited the right mix of knowledge, attitude and skills required to achieve this purpose.

1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM  

 The problems and challenges that SMEs contend with are enormous no  doubt but it is curious to know that some SMEs are able to overcome them. This gives hope and should provide a basis for optimism that there is a way out. There must be some survival strategies, which are not known to many SME promoters. This research is also intended to explore and unravel some of the key business survival strategies, which have worked for a few thriving SMEs. The benefits of this could be tremendous in that other SMEs facing threats of extermination as well as new and proposed new ones could also borrow a leaf  from them. It is against this background that this study is aimed at analyzing the role of small scale enterprises in the economic development of Nigeria.

1.3   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. Is there any significant relationship between the small scale enterprise and economic growth in Nigeria?

2. Has the national budget taken care of the needs of SMEs in Nigeria?

3Is there any significant relationship between the growth of Nigerian banks and the effectiveness and efficiency of small scale enterprises in Nigeria?.

1.4  RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

H01: There is no significant relationship between the small scale enterprise and economic growth in Nigeria.

H11: There is significant relationship between the small scale enterprise and economic growth in Nigeria.

H02: The amount budgeted for SMEs has not been significantly implemented 

H12: The amount budgeted for SMEs has been significantly implemented 

H03:  There is no significant relationship between the growth of Nigerian Banks and the effectiveness and efficiency of small scale enterprises in  Nigeria.

H13: There is no significant relationship between the growth of Nigerian Banks and the effectiveness and efficiency of small scale enterprises in Nigeria.

1.5   OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The road objective of this research work is to analyze the role of small scale enterprises in the economic development of Nigeria. However, the specific objectives include;

i.   The identification of the personal characteristics of the respondents in the study area.

ii.  The enumeration of the various bottleneck facing small scale enterprises in developing countries at large and Nigeria in particular.

iii.  Recommend ways to improve small scale enterprise in Nigeria so as to make the all important sector the engine room for economic development which it is meant to be.

1.6    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The main interest of this research is to answer questions revolving around finding solutions to the problems militating against Small Scale Enterprises in Nigeria so that they can improve and stabilize their performance and hence fulfill their expected roles in the economic development of Nigeria. Most developing countries such as Nigeria heavily rely on the vibrancy of their SMEs in solving basic problems of unemployment, poverty, disease, rural-urban migration, etc. The impact of SMEs in this regard has been rather insignificant to the point that if Nigeria is to make progress in its economic growth and development, urgent drastic action needs to be taken regarding improving the lot of her SMEs. It is against this background that this study is set to investigate the role of SME in the economic development of Nigeria.

1.7   SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study is delimited to Ijebu-ode local government area. The constituent of the respondents shall include operators or owners, Public and Banks in the said Local Government Area.

1.8    DEFINITION OF TERMS

i. Micro Enterprise: A firm, whose total cost including working capital but excluding cost of land is not more than Ten Million Naira  (N10,000,000) and/or with a labour size of not more than thirty (30) full-time workers and/or a turnover of less than Two Million Naira  (N2,000,000) per annum.

ii. Small Scale Enterprise: An enterprise whose total cost including working capital but excluding cost of land is between Ten Million Naira  (N10,000,000) and One Hundred Million Naira (N100,000,000) and/or a workforce between Eleven (11) and Seventy (70) full-time staff and/or with a turnover of not more than Ten Million Naira   (N10,000,000) in a year.

iii.  Medium Enterprise: A company with total cost including working capital but excluding cost of land of more than one Hundred Million Naira  (N100,000,000) but less than Three Hundred Million Naira  (N300,000,000) and/or a staff strength of between Seventy-one (71) and Two Hundred (200) full-time workers and/or with an annual turnover of not more than Twenty Million Naira  (N20,000,000) only.

 iv.   Large Enterprise: Any enterprise whose total cost including working capital but excluding cost of land is above Three Hundred Million Naira  (N300,000,000) and/or a labour force of over Two Hundred (200) workers and/or an annual turnover of more than Twenty Million Naira (N20,000,000) only.

Bank: an institution or establishment for the custody of valuables and procurement and transmission of fund for investment and other purposes.

Business: the sum total of organized effort and procedures involved in providing people with goods and services needed in their everyday life.

Collateral Security: Property pledged as a guarantee for the repayment on loan

Entrepreneur:  One who initiates activity, blending business resource into a productive unit and assuming all the risk of business operations for profit.

Finance: Funds used or needed to support an undertaking. It could also be referred to as funds made available to business firms by government, banks and other financial institutions.

Loans: An amount of money lent by financial institutions at a specific interest rate to individuals, government and or business firms for a specific period of time and is repayable.

Small scale firms: business organization with small capital outlay, employing few labours and have relatively small share of the market.

Credit Scheme:A set of institutional arrangement for the provision of loans and grants to business organizations

Other abbreviations, terms and notations used in this study include but are not limited to the following:

(v) NASME: Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, which is an umbrella association of all SMEs

(vi) MAN: Manufacturers Association of Nigeria is the official association of manufacturing companies in Nigeria

(vii) NACCIMA: Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture is an association of various Chambers of Commerce in Nigeria.

viii. NASSI: Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industries is the umbrella        association of all the Small Scale Enterprises in Nigeria.

ix. DFIs: Development Finance Institutions are companies involved in project and development finance such as the Bank of Industry (BOI)

x.  SMEs: Small and Medium Enterprises are those firms, which satisfy the definitions given above  xi.  SMEDAN: Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria

xii. BOI: Bank of Industry, which provides medium to long-term loans to enterprises  xiii. CBN: Central Bank of Nigeria, the apex bank in Nigeria, which supervises other banks

xiv.   NACRDB: Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Bank

xv.   NEEDS: National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy

xvi.   SEEDS: State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy

xvii.  NDE: National Directorate of Employment

xviii.  CMD: Centre for Management Development

xix.   NAPEP: National Poverty Eradication Programme

xx.   MSME: Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

xxi.   NGO: Non-governmental Organisation

xxii.  LCCI: Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry

xxiii.  NACC: Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce

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